[1] The Portuguese name, meaning 'dog from Castro Laboreiro', refers to a small town in the far north of Portugal, now a parish in the Melgaço urban area.

Changes in agricultural methods over the last hundred years led to many of these dogs being abandoned, turning feral and becoming a problem for those that raise cattle and horses.

[citation needed] Today, the breed has mostly been removed from its native range and purpose, and is kept as a companion and guard dog.

[5] The Castro Laboreiro Dog is recognised by the FCI in Group 2, Section 2.2: Mastiffs, Mountain Type, Portugal (breed number 150).

[citation needed] The standardised appearance for which the Castro Laboreiro Dog has been bred is somewhat wolf-like in outline.